Disclaimer:
I do not own any of the persons based on real people within this story. I do, however, own my OC's.
Author's Note:
Hey guys, this is my first fiction story based on Real People and I'm a little nervous about posting it. Hopefully it's okay and please let me know what you think.
Any and all mistakes are mine, and mine alone.
Chapter 1.
I feel someone sit next to me but I don't bother looking up from my phone. A couple minutes later, I feel a nudge on my shoulder and I glance up - barely - to see a flash of green. My lips twitch as I look back at my phone, pretending that I hadn't noticed him. I feel the table shake as someone else joins us but force myself not to look up.
My ear bud is pulled out - roughly, might I add - and a whiney voice fills the space my music once did.
"Don't ignore me, Ally!" I chuckle and lift my head enough to poke my tongue out at my green haired companion before trying to put the bud back into my ear.
I see him move quickly and my phone is wrestled from my hands, my headphones trailing limply after him as he runs away.
"Seán!" I growl, glaring at his retreating back as I stand up, debating whether it's worth running after him or not. I hear a laugh and look across the table to see Ethan trying to contain it. "Oh, it's funny. Is it?"
He shakes his head, but the quiet chuckles give away his amusement. I turn back to the direction Seán disappeared in to see no sign of him and I sigh, sitting back down across from Ethan with a pout.
"Oh, cheer up, Ally. You know he'll be back."
"Yes, once he's been through everything he can."
Ethan gives me a look as if to say, 'he wouldn't' but I shrug.
"He's done it before. Do you know how awkward it was between us after he'd read the message thread between me and my ex?" I shudder, remembering the couple weeks Seán couldn't look me in the eye.
"Ah, well. He was probably doing it out of the goodness of his heart, making sure his best friend was being treated right."
"Yes, well. As much as that would've been appreciated, I doubt he enjoyed some of the things he saw." I feel my cheeks heat up and suddenly Ethan realised what I was talking about.
"Dude!" He mentioned in disbelief, "Really? Didn't take you as the type to send pictures."
"What can I say? I'm full of surprises. Seán couldn't look me in the eye for weeks." Ethan suddenly gets quiet and I see a weird look pass over his face before I decide to change the subject. "How did you guys realise I was no longer at the convention anyway?"
"Jack noticed; I don't know how he figured it out or how he knew you'd be here. But he did." I nod my head, not surprised. It's not the first time this has happened. I watch Ethan lift his head a little more, his eyebrows furrowing as his eyes follow something - or someone. "Did he expect you to chase after him?"
"Probably. Why, is he still running?"
"Mhmm."
"He'll probably tire himself out in a few minutes, either that or he'll realise I never left the table. Leave him to it."
A few minutes later, a winded Seán falls down into the seat next to me. I turn my head with a raised eyebrow and hold my hand out towards him expectantly. He drops my phone into my hand and I quickly pocket it along with my headphones.
"You... didn't... run?" Seán questions taking deep breaths between each word.
"I didn't run."
"Spoil... sport."
"It took me three times after the age of twenty two to realise it was hopeless trying to catch up to you. You clearly haven't gotten the point that I won't do it anymore."
"We'll see." He states confidently now that he's caught his breath. "Why'd you leave?"
"How'd you know I was gone?"
"I asked first."
"So?" He knows exactly why I left.
"Alayna." He says, stressing my name.
"Seán." I mimic.
"You can't let this get in the way of you doing the things you enjoy."
"I'm not, I still play video games. I still go to work, I still read. I'm still doing things I enjoy." From the corner of my eye I see Ethan looking between us, both confused and worried.
"You used to love PAX though and yet you're letting it get in the way of that." I stiffen and my mood darkens, I don't want to talk about this and yet Seán always tries to push the subject with me.
"I'm not. I never liked PAX; I only went to support you, Seán."
"Ally-" He tries to continue but I cut him off, my chair scraping across the floor loudly as I stand from the table and put my coat on.
"No, I'm done with this conversation. Go back to PAX and leave me alone." I pick up my coffee and my bag before quickly making my way to the door and leaving, in hopes of shaking off my new-found bad mood.
I lay on the hotel room bed, throwing one of Seán's Septic Sam plushies in the air and catching it. I hear a quiet beep and the door unlatch before it opens slightly, getting stuck on the door stop I put behind it.
"Oof! Fuck, Ally. Let me in!" I continue to lie on the bed as Seán tries to fight his way in. "Alayna!"
"Go away!"
"It's a joint hotel room, Ally. I'm meant to be staying here too!" I choose not to say anything in reply and instead, hear Seán pushing on the door, trying to get it open. I hear footsteps out in the hall and a couple new voices question him on what he's doing.
"Ally'sblocked the door, I can't get in." I hear someone else push against the door with him, yet the door stop still won't move on the laminate floor.
"Sorry, Jack." Mark mutters apologetically.
"Ah, don't worry about it. I'll catch you later." I hear the footsteps start again before a door down the hall opens and closes. "Ally c'mon," I hear the sound of Seán sliding down the door and sigh to myself, stopping the continuous throwing of Sam. "Look, I'm sorry for pushing you. I'm sorry for being my stubborn self and forcing you out here with me. I just hate to see you locking yourself away."
I sit up and throw my legs over the edge of the bed to stand before I quietly make my way over to the door, ensuring that Seán can't hear me.
"You're my best friend I just want to help you. I know you wanted some time alone, but it's almost six and we have dinner plans. I missed you. I want to spend some time with all my friends in one room."
I press myself against the wall as he continues to talk before squatting down and taking hold of the doorstop and pulling on it. Suddenly the door flies open and Seán topples into the room backwards, hitting his head on the floor. His hands immediately go to his head and he winces before a smile blooms onto his face.
"Ouch, jeysus. Warn a guy next time!" I can't help but smile back at him, even as I smack him in the chest.
"You're a dick, you know that, right?"
"Well yes, but you love me."
"Debateable, Seán. Really debateable."
"Oh, c'mon! You gotta love your best friend!" I smile at him and roll my eyes, standing up to make my way back to my position on the bed. I pick up Sam once more and continue my little bounce and catch game. I hear the rustling of fabric and assume that Seán has stood up; I'm right considering the door closes a minute later.
I look to the clock from the corner of my eye and see that's he's right, we have ten minutes until six but I don't really care. I throw Sam up into the air once more intent on catching him when Seán swipes him on his way down.
"Aw, Sam. What's the mean woman doing to you?" I raise my eyebrows at the goofball as he hugs the plushie to his chest. "C'mon, Alayna. We've got an hour until we've got to meet everyone." I roll my eyes before turning so that my back is facing him.
"I'm not in the mood to socialise with others, Seán."
"Nope. Nuh-uh, not happening. You're coming whether you like it or not. You said you would yesterday and before we came, so everyone is expecting you!" I feel movement behind me before I feel the mattress underneath me lifting and me hitting the floor.
"Seán!"
"Hey, you make me fall through the door; I'm dumping you on the floor." I sit up quickly to see him putting the mattress back and fixing the sheets.
"Why am I friends with you?"
"Because I've known you since you were just a sparkle in your fathers eye."
"Oh, jeez. Gross, Seán!"
"Suck it up, get ready." He mentions before heading over to his own suitcase, effectively ending the conversation. I sigh and stand up, grabbing my bag and my phone before locking myself in the bathroom.
I step out of the shower and blow out a breath, rubbing the skin on my wrist. I quickly dry off and apply a small amount of makeup before I pull on the denim dress I'd picked out and buttoning it up. I fix my hair, throwing it in a messy bun and leaving my bangs down. I spray myself with perfume before I pick up my earrings, stepping towards the door and unlocking it.
I close my eyes and take a deep breath before opening it; I step out of the room before starting to fix my earrings into their spot.
"Why did you guys have to go more fancy this time?"
"It's not fancy, Alayna." Seán comments, he's sat on the edge of his bed putting his shoes on. I roll my eyes and sit down on my own bed.
"If that's the case, I'll wear my sneakers."
"With a dress, really?"
"I've done it before." Seán stands up and walks over to me, sitting on the bed next to me.
"You're just doing this because I'm making you go out, aren't you?"
"Yep."
"C'mon, Ally. You've known about this since before we came out here. Put the shoes you brought with you on." I glare at the floor, reaching over to the bedside table to grip my necklace and charm bracelet. I slip the bracelet back in its rightful place on my right wrist before holding out the necklace for Seán.
"You know, you do this all the time. What do you do when I'm not around to put this thing on you?"
"The only reason I make you do it when we're together is because you bought it for me."
"I can't even believe you still have it, didn't I give it to you for your twelfth birthday or something?"
"Thirteenth actually." I hear him snort as he finally clasps the necklace and I reach down, pulling out the small pair of black heels I brought from under the bed.
"You need me to help you with them too?" He questions, his tone laden with sarcasm.
"No thanks, Prince Charming. I'm sure I'll be fine." I drone, buckling them up. When I'm done, I stand up and look at Seán, my left hand finding its way over to fiddle with my bracelet. "Let's get this over with, shall we?"
Seán's eyes immediately fall to my fiddling fingers and he smiles at me reassuringly before offering me his arm. I reluctantly take it and he leans over to kiss my head.
"There's no need to be nervous, you've hung out with these people a million times." He tells me, leading me to the door.
"I know, I just..." I trail off.
"I know. You ready?" He questions as he reaches for the door handle. I nod my head and grab my bag from beside the door as he opens it, allowing me to exit first.
I pull at the charms on my bracelet, counting and recounting them. I knew I shouldn't have come, the fact that I'm not in the mood to socialise really makes me a debbie downer at these events. I sigh quietly and rub my thumb over a certain charm before reaching over to pick up my drink and sipping at it.
Maybe getting really drunk will help me open up?
No, tried that before.
Not a good result.
I look to the top end of the table and see Seán laughing and joking with Mark and Felix and I sigh once more.
Why does he have to be such a stubborn arsehole?
I push my chair back slightly and reach down, hoping to grab my bag and make a quick getaway before the waiter comes over to take our orders, but I'm interrupted by a skinny bright blue ninja as he sits down next to me.
"I know what you're planning on doing." He murmurs quietly as if it's a conspiracy, "You know he'll just drag you back here when he realises you're gone."
"What makes you think he'll notice my absence?" I question, looking down at his small threesome at the top of the table. When I turn to look back at Ethan he looks at me in disbelief.
"C'mon, Ally. He may be close with those guys, but you're his best friend. He'll notice within the first five minutes after you've pulled a Houdini." I roll my eyes but yet I can't help but agree with his logic.
As infuriating as it is.
I drop the handle of my bag and rub my forehead lightly.
"I told him I didn't want to socialise tonight." When I look up, I see the sympathetic look in his eyes and I can't help but glower. It quickly disappears.
"I know how that feels." He mentions, bumping his shoulder with my own. "But hey! No socialising. That's fine; we can just sit here in silence. But if you feel the need to talk, I'll be right here!"
I can't help my lip turning up slightly at the corner as he points to his chair; I nod my head before picking up a menu and opening it in front of me.
And we do, sit in silence that is. Until the waiter comes around, we all order our food and besides the chatter from everyone at the top of the table, it stays silent for a little more.
I lean back in my seat before turning to face the smurf next to me and opening my mouth to say something, anything.
"Did you know that butterfly wings are actually transparent?" Oh great! What a better time for my inner butterfly nerd to come out! I inwardly groan and my head falls into my hand.
"Someone's conversation starters are on fleek." Ethan teases good-naturedly but I feel my cheeks flush anyway. I squirm uncomfortably in my chair and watch Ethan smile reassuringly at me. "I'm kidding, Ally. Tell me how you know this information."
I can't help but smile back at him and I once again find myself playing with my bracelet. I situate myself comfortably so that I'm facing Ethan and we begin to discuss the random topic of butterflies until our food arrives.
Author's Note:
Please let me know what you think with a review!
